Coupling

ABSTRACT

Mating coupling members for transferring motion from one member to another are disclosed which each have a plurality of pins positioned, shaped, and sized to mate with pins of another coupling member wherein each pin of one coupling member is received between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins of an other coupling member. Coupling members having cylindrical pins and truncated cone-shaped pins and members having shields enclosing the pins are disclosed as exemplary of the inventive concept.

United States Patent Kneeland COUPLING David Kneeland, 1001 W. US. 56Highway, Olathe, Kans. 66061 22 Filed: Oct.l2, 1970 21 App]. No.1 79,867

[72] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. ..64/28 R [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6d 7/00 [58] Field otSearch..64/10, 9, I4, 28, 30, 32

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,429,980 9/l 922 Spangler..64/9 R 2,924,082 2/1960 Reich ..64/l0X [451 July 18,1972

2,930,2l0 3/1960 Farmer ..64/10 Primary Examiner-Edward G. FavorsAttorney-Fishburn, Gold & Litman ABSTRACT Mating coupling members fortransferring motion from one member to another are disclosed which eachhave a plurality of pins positioned, shaped, and sized to mate with pinsof another coupling member wherein each pin of one coupling member isreceived between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins of another coupling member. Coupling members having cylindrical pins andtruncated cone-shaped pins and members having shields enclosing the pinsare disclosed as exemplary of the inventive concept.

9 Clains, 6 Drawing figures Pmmmuuamz 7 3,677,033

ATTORNEYS COUPLING The present invention relates to couplings adapted totransfer motion from one member to another and more particularly tocouplings having facing mating coupling members each having a pluralityof pins extending therefrom wherein each pin of one coupling member isreceived between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins of another coupling member.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide acoupling for transmitting motion between a pair of coupling members eachhaving pins extending therefrom with the pins of one coupling membereach being received between and in line engagement or contact with apair of adjacent pins extending from the other coupling member wherebyrotation of one of the coupling members effects or transfers rotation tothe other coupling member; to provide such a coupling adapted tomaintain a substantially constant velocity and substantially zero playbetween the coupling members during the transferring of rotation fromone member to another; to provide such a coupling which is self-aligningwherein engagement of the pins in line contact axially aligns thecoupling members having the pins extending therefrom; to provide such acoupling having an overload safety feature which effects disengagementof the pins when the torque exceeds a selected value; to provide such acoupling having a hood or shield mounted on one or each coupling memberthereof to retain flexible pins in interengagement within the hood orshield; to provide such a coupling which is versatile in use andconstruction wherein the pins may be rigid, flexible or semi-rigid; toprovide such a coupling wherein at least one of the coupling members hasa plurality of circumferentially spaced gear teeth extending from theperiphery thereof for interengaging with a member having similar teeth;to provide such a coupling having a plurality of rotatable membershaving interengageable pins wherein all the rotatable members are drivenby rotation of one rotatable member, and to provide such a couplingwhich is economical to manufacture, which may be formed of any materialthat may be cast or molded without the necessity of machining and whichis particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a coupling embodying features ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1 andshowing an arrangement of pins extending from each coupling member toillustrate line contact of each pin of one coupling member with a pairof adjacent pins ofthe other coupling member.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and takenthrough a modified coupling showing a minimum number of pins extendingfrom each of a pair of parallel facing coupling members.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified coupling whereinthe members thereof each have a hood or shield member for retaining thepins in cooperative interengagement.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a further modified coupling memberand coupling members for selectively mating therewith.

FIG, 6 is a perspective view of an additional modified form of couplingmember having truncated cone-shaped pins.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein.However, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention which may be embodied in many forms that areradically different from the illustrative embodiments presented herein.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims actually defining the scope of this invention. In this regard, itis to be recognized that motion transferring structures in accordanceherewith, such as coupling members, may be embodied in various forms,such as discs, drums, cans and the like, and furthermore that suchstructures may effect various motions, such as rotation, reciprocation,oscillation, and the like and to selectively activate and interruptelectrical or other suitable circuits. However, the disclosure hereof ispresented only as representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriate detailed structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 generally designatesa coupling including a pair of rotatable coupling members 2 and 3 forcoupling together a pair of adjacent substantially coaxial rotaryelements, such as shafts 4 and 5, whereby rotation of one of rotaryelements effects rotation of the other rotary element. The couplingmembers 2 and 3 are arranged in generally facing relation and each ofthe coupling members 2 and 3 have pins 6 and 7 respectively extendingfrom facing surfaces thereof and arranged in interlocking patterns, aslater described, such that each pin 6 of the coupling member 2 isreceived between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins of thecoupling member 3 and the pins 7 are in like contact with the pins 6.

The coupling members 2 and 3 are illustrated as generally planar andcircular discs having bores 8 and 9 respectively extending through thecenter thereof for receiving an end of the shaft 4 and 5 respectively.The shafts 4 and 5 are secured within the bores 8 and 9 respectively byany suitable means and in the illustrated coupling, each coupling member2 and 3 has a threaded recess extending radially inwardly fromperipheral surfaces 10 and 11 of the coupling members 2 and 3respectively and communicating with the bores 8 and 9 for receivingsuitable fastening members, such as set screws 12 and 13, which may bemoved into engagement with the end portion of the shafts 4 and 5 forsecuring the coupling members 2 and 3 respectively thereon.

The pins 6 and 7 extend from facing surfaces of the coupling members 2and 3 and are circumferentially spaced in a circular pattern concentricwith the axis of rotation of the respective coupling member. The pinsextending from each of the coupling members 2 and 3 are spaced apart adistance sufficient wherein when the coupling members mate, a pinextending from one member is between and in line contact with a pair ofadjacent pins of the other coupling member, therefore, the couplingmembers 2 and 3 each have an equal number of pins extending from thefacing surfaces thereof with the number of spaces between the pins ofone coupling member being the same as the number of pins of the othercoupling member and all adjacent pins supplementing each other.

The number of pins extending from each coupling member may be any numbergreater than one, however, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate four pins extendingfrom each coupling member and FIG. 3 illustrates two pins, which is aminimum number of pins, extending from each coupling member.

The pins 6 and 7 may be of many shapes, however, the pins areillustrated as generally cylindrical members and the circulararrangement thereof effects tangential or line contact between adjacentpins 6 and 7 for the engaged length of the pins.

The coupling is of a structure that difference in rigidity orflexibility of the pins provide a difference in the character of thedrive and the coupling members and the pins extending therefrom arepreferably, but not necessarily integral and formed of any suitablematerial adapted to be cast or molded. The coupling members and theintegral pins extending therefrom may be substantially rigid memberswhereby the rotatable members 2 and 3 rotate at a substantially constantand identical velocity and a change in the rotational speed of one ofthe shafts effects an immediate and corresponding change in the rotaryspeed of the other shaft and cooperative engagement of the pins 6 and 7effects axial alignment of the shafts 4 and 5.

The coupling structure is adapted to absorb shock and to correct somemisalignment between the shafts 4 and particularly when at least one ofthe coupling members and the pins extending therefrom is formed of asuitable flexible material, such as one of a number of syntheticresinous materials selected from the thermoplastics includingpolypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, andacrylonitrile-butadienestyrene (commonly referred to as ABS) andthermoset plastics including phenolformaldehyde, polyester, and epoxyresins.

Forming a coupling of members constructed as described and illustratedin FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, is effective to coaxially align the shafts 4and 5 and center the coupling members 2 and 3 by interengagement betweenthe pins 6 and 7 and the line contact between the pins 6 and 7 providesend support for the shafts 4 and 5. When the pins 6 and 7 aresubstantially rigid members rotation of one of the shafts and thecoupling member mounted thereon effects a substantially identical speedof rotation of the other rotatable member. When one of the group of pins6 and 7 is substantially rigid and the other group of pins is flexible,rotation of one of the coupling members may effect some varying in thespeed of rotation of the other coupling member and the respective shaft.When each of the group of pins are rigid, rotation of one of therotatable members effects a high torque change between the rotatablemembers 2 and 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified coupling 25 including outer flanges orannular shield members 26 and 27 mounted on coupling members 28 and 29respectively each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins 30and 31 extending from respective facing surfaces 32 and 33 thereof. Theouter flanges or shield members 26 and 27 surround the pins 30 and 31respectively to retain the pins of one of the coupling members inengagement with the pins of the other coupling member.

In the illustrated structure, the facing surfaces 32 and 33 of thecoupling members 28 and 29 each have an inner shield or portion 34 and35 respectively extending therefrom and coaxial with the respectivecoupling member and having a free end positioned intermediate the endsof the pins 30 and 31 respectively. The free end of the coaxial innershields or portions 34 and 35 and the free end ofthe outer flanges orshield members 26 and 27 terminate in a common plane intermediate theends of the respective pins 30 and 31, thereby having the pins enclosedwithin and surrounded by the outer flanges or shield members 26 and 27and the inner shields or portions 34 and 35 whereby when the pins 30 and31 are flexible members and when the torque applied to the pins 30 and31 exceeds a selected magnitude which would cause the pins 30 and 31 tobe moved out of mutual engagement, the outer flanges or shield members26 and 27 and the inner shields or portions 34 and 35 cooperate toretain the pins 30 and 31 therebetween to prevent damage to the pinsresulting from the excess torque and disengagement.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified coupling member 50 having pins 51 and 52extending from opposite faces 53 and 54 of the modified coupling member50 for mating interengagement with pins 55 and 56 extending from endcoupling members 57 and 58 respectively. Generally one of the couplingmembers 50, 57, and 58 is suitably secured to a shaft and rotatabletherewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the modified coupling member50 has a bore 59 therethrough positioned coaxial with the modifiedcoupling member 50 to receive a shaft 60 therethrough and be securedthereto, as by set screws. The end coupling members 57 and 58 may bemounted on the shaft 60 with the modified coupling member 50therebetween and the end coupling members 57 and 58 are illustrated asmovable along the shaft 60 by any suitable means, such as arms or thelike, to effect a clutch action between one or both of the couplingmembers 57 and 58 and the modified coupling member 50,

Use and mounting of the modified coupling member 50 is versatile, suchas having end portions of shafts suitably secured to the end couplingmembers 57 and 58 respectively whereby rotation of one shaft rotates theend coupling member mounted thereon, modified coupling member 50, theother end coupling member, and the shaft having same mounted thereon.

At least one of the coupling members 50, 57, and 58 may have a pluralityof circumferentially spaced teeth 62 extending from a peripheral surface63 thereof for interengaging with a member having similar teeth wherebyrotation of the shaft 60 transmits rotation between the respectivecoupling member and a shaft parallel with or perpendicular to the shafthaving the coupling members mounted thereon depending on theconfiguration of the teeth 62, for example, when the teeth 62 arebeveled, rotary motion may be transmitted between the shaft 60 and ashaft (not shown) substantially normal or perpendicular thereto.

It is preferable that the teeth 62 extend from the peripheral surface ofthe modified coupling member 50 and the modified coupling member 50 mayhave flanges or shields, as shown in FIG. 4, extending from the oppositefaces 53 and 54 respectively to surround the pins 51 and 52 extendingfrom the opposite faces 53 and 54 to thereby retain the pins 51 and 52in engagement with the pins of adjacent coupling members.

The peripheral surface of the coupling members 57 and 58 may be formedas cam surfaces so that rotation of the respective coupling member mayeffect any desired motion or effect intermittent activation of asuitable switch to complete and/or interrupt an electrical hydraulic,pneumatic optical, magnetic or other circuit which is operative toperform a desired functron.

FIG. 6 illustrates an additional modified coupling member 65 suitablymounted on an adjacent rotary element, such as a shaft 66. Theillustrated coupling member 65 has a minimum number of pins 67 extendingtherefrom and mating engagement between like pins is operative tocorrect shaft offset and angular misalignment and to permit varyingclearance between a like coupling member. The pins 67 are illustrated astruncated cones having the larger diameter thereof adjacent therespective coupling member 65 thereby providing increased strength inthe pins at the base thereof.

In a coupling wherein each of a pair of coupling members 65 have a pairof the truncated cone-shaped pins 67 extending from facing surfacesthereof, the space or clearance between the coupling members 65 may beadjusted by movement of one of the coupling members 65 toward and awayfrom the other coupling member thereby varying the space therebetween.Contact is maintained between the pins 67 of the modified couplingmembers 65 during the adjustment of the space between the couplingmember 65. The pair of the truncated cone-shaped pins 67 extending fromthe coupling members 65 are centered about the respective axis ofrotation thereof whereby line contact is effected for the engaged lengthof the pins 67 by engagement of free ends thereof with facing surfacesof the respective other coupling member.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these specificforms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coupling comprising:

a. a pair of coupling members arranged in facing relation and eachadapted to be secured to an elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith,said coupling members having facing sides thereof substantially normalto a respective axis of rotation of said coupling members; and

b. a plurality of elongate pins extending from facing sides of each ofsaid coupling members and circumferentially spaced in a patternconcentric with the respective axis of rotation of said respectivecoupling member, each of said pins of each of said coupling membersbeing received between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pinsextending from the other coupling member to transmit motion from one ofsaid coupling members to the other coupling member, said line contactbeing substantially parallel with the axes of the coupling members, theengagement of said pins providing support of one coupling member by theother in self centering relation.

2. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 including an annular shield membermounted on each of said coupling members and surrounding said pins tothereby retain said pins against radially outward movement and therebymaintain said pins of one of said coupling members in engagement withthe pins of the other coupling member.

3. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pins extending fromeach of said coupling members are substantially rigid members to effectrotation of said coupling members at substantially identical speeds andof high torque value.

4. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidcoupling members is an annular disc having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced teeth extending from the periphery thereof forinterengaging with a member having similar teeth.

5. A coupling comprising:

a. a plurality of mating coupling members each rotatable about arespective axis of rotation and arranged in generally facing relationwith facing sides thereof being perpendicular to the respective axis ofrotation of said coupling members;

b. means on at least one of said coupling members for securing same toan elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith; and

c. a plurality of elongate pins extending from said facing sides of eachof said coupling members and circumferentially spaced in a circularpattern concentric with the respective axis of rotation of saidrespective coupling member, said pins each being received between and inline contact with a pair of adjacent pins extending from an adjacentcoupling member to transmit motion from one of said coupling members tothe other coupling members said line contact being substantiallyparallel with the axes of the coupling members and the rotation of bothcoupling members are uniform and at the same speed.

6. A coupling comprising:

a. a pair of coupling members arranged in facing relation and eachadapted to be secured to an elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith,said coupling members having facing sides thereof substantially normalto a respective axis of rotation of said coupling members;

b. a plurality of pins extending from facing sides of each of saidcoupling members and circumferentially spaced in a pattern concentricwith the respective axis of rotation of said respective coupling member,each of said pins of each of said coupling members being receivedbetween and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins extending fromthe other coupling member to transmit motion from one of said couplingmembers to the other coupling member;

0. the pins extending from one of said coupling members beingsubstantially rigid and the pins extending from the other couplingmember being flexible members.

7. A coupling as set forth in claim 6 including a shield member mountedon at least one of said coupling members and surrounding said pins tothereby retain said flexible pins in engagement with the pins of theother coupling member.

8. A coupling comprising:

a. a pair of coupling members arranged in facing relation and eachadapted to be secured to an elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith,said coupling members having facing sides thereof substantially normalto a respective axis of rotation of said coupling members;

b. a plurality of pins extending from facing sides of each of saidcoupling members and circumferentially spaced in a pattern concentricwith the respective axis of rotation of said respective coupling member,each of said pins of each of said coupling members being receivedbetween and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pins extending fromthe other coupling member to transmit motion from one of said couplingmembers to the other coupling member; and the pins extending from eachof said coupling members

1. A coupling comprising: a. a pair of coupling members arranged infacing relation and each adapted to be secured to an elongated shaftcoaxially aligned therewith, said coupling members having facing sidesthereof substantially normal to a respective axis of rotation of saidcoupling members; and b. a plurality of elongate pins extending fromfacing sides of each of said coupling members and circumferentiallyspaced in a pattern concentric with the respective axis of rotation ofsaid respective coupling member, each of said pins of each of saidcoupling members being received between and in line contact with a pairof adjacent pins extending from the other coupling member to transmitmotion from one of said coupling members to the other coupling member,said line contact being substantially parallel with the axes of thecoupling members, the engagement of said pins providing support of onecoupling member by the other in self centering relation.
 2. A couplingas set forth in claim 1 including an annular shield member mounted oneach of said coupling members and surrounding said pins to therebyretain said pins against radially outward movement and thereby maintainsaid pins of one of said coupling members in engagement with the pins ofthe other coupling member.
 3. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe pins extending from each of said coupling members are substantiallyrigid members to effect rotation of said coupling members atsubstantially identical speeds , and of high torque value.
 4. A couplingas set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said coupling members isan annular disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teethextending from the periphery thereof for interengaging with a memberhaving similar teeth.
 5. A coupling comprising: a. a plurality of matingcoupling members each rotatable about a respective axis of rotation andarranged in generally facing relation with facing sides thereof beingperpendicular to the respective axis of rotation of said couplingmembers; b. means on at least one of said coupling members for securingsame to an elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith; and c. aplurality of elongate pins extending from said facing sides of each ofsaid coupling members and circumferentially spaced in a circular patternconcentric with the respective axis of rotation of said respectivecoupling member, said pins each being received between and in linecontact with a pair of adjacent pins extending from an adjacent couplingmember to transmit motion from one of said coupling members to the othercoupling members , said line contact being substantially parallel withthe axes of the coupling members and the rotation of both couplingmembers are uniform and at the same speed.
 6. A coupling comprising: a.a pair of coupling members arranged in facing relation and each adaptedto be secured to an elongated shaft coaxially aligned therewith, saidcoupling members having facing sides thereof substantially normal to arespective axis of rotation of said coupling members; b. a plurality ofpins extending from facing sides of each of said coupling members andcircumferentially spaced in a pattern concentric with the respectiveaxis of rotation of said respective coupling member, each of said pinsof each of said coupling members being received between and in linecontact with a pair of adjacent pins extending from the other couplingmember to transmit motion from one of said coupling members to the othercoupling member; c. the pins extending from one of said coupling membersbeing substantially rigid and the pins extending from the other couplingmember being flexible members.
 7. A coupling as set forth in claim 6including a shield member mounted on at least one of said couplingmembers and surrounding said pins to thereby retain said flexible pinsin engagement with the pins of the other coupling member.
 8. A couplingcomprising: a. a pair of coupling members arranged in facing relationand each adapted to be secured to an elongated shaft coaxially alignedtherewith, said coupling members having facing sides thereofsubstantially normal to a respective axis of rotation of said couplingmembers; b. a plurality of pins extending from facing sides of each ofsaid coupling members and circumferentially spaced in a patternconcentric with the respective axis of rotation of said respectivecoupling member, each of said pins of each of said coupling membersbeing received between and in line contact with a pair of adjacent pinsextending from the other coupling member to transmit motion from one ofsaid coupling members to the other coupling member; and c. the pinsextending from each of said coupling members being flexible memberswhereby rotation of one of said coupling members effects a lower torquechange between said coupling members.
 9. A coupling as set forth inclaim 8 including a shield member mounted on each of said couplingmembers and surrounding said pins to thereby retain said pins of one ofsaid coupling members in engagement with the pins of the other couplingmember.